Method and apparatus for conditioning warp, threads, yarns, and the like



y 27, 1947- H. J. WALTER ETAL 2,421,135

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING WARP, THREADS, YARNS, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 28, 1945 INVENTORS ATTORN EY PatElIl'te 27 a,

Mnrnon n arrana'rns son CONDITION- gnc waar, 'rs, mans, AND The Harold J. Walter, Uxbridge, Mass, and Paul Rose, East Orange, N. J.

Application February 28, 1945, Serial No. 580,206

6 Claims.

This invention relates to method and means for improving the elasticity, meshing quality and tensile strength of threads, yarns andthe like while they are being processed. More particularly it relates to the conditioning of elements of the cloth, such for example as warp, to give them the optimum moisture content for withstanding tension exerted thereon in the manufacture of said elements into cloth.

An object of the invention is to control the amount of moisture in warp and the like, while it is being woven, knitted or otherwise processed.

7 like while they are passing into and through a machine by which they are subjected to tension. Another object of the invention is to employ conditioned air to control the moisture content of threads, yarns, and the like, such iorexample as in warp, while they are being processed in a machine and to thereafter modify the atmosphere of the room in which the machine is contained. I

Another object ofthe invention is toprovide means for conditioning threads, yarns, and the Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter,

The invention accordingly arrangements of parts, and in the several steps and" relation and order of each of said steps to one or. more of the others thereof, all as will be pointed out in the following description, and the scope of the application oi. which will be indi cated in the following .claims.

The invention will best be understood if the following description-is read in connection with the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 shows in a side elevational view an embodiment of the invention in its application to warp during itsiabrication into cloth in a loom; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a mill room having therein a number of machines to which conditioned air is applied, individually;

and

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 showing chine equipped for directly recirculating maart of the conditioned air after its exchange of moisture like individual to each of a number of machines contained in a given closedspace, combined with and related to means for exhausting air from said space to cause conditioning of said space by the air used to condition said threads, yarns, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to condition threads, yarns and the like in the individual machines in which they are being processed and to employ the conditioning air after its moisture content has been modified by its contact with said threads, yarns and the like tomodify the temperature of the space in which said machines are located.

Another object of the inventionis to use the same conditioned air to modify the moisture of threads, yarns and the like in individual machines comprising a group of machines contained in the same closed space, and to modify the temperature of said closed space.

with threads or yarns being processed in said machine. 1 I

The term warpf is used herein to include the application of ourmethod to threads, yarns, and the like, generally, and not in a limited sense.

In accordance with our invention we bring into contact with threads, yarns and the like while they are being processed and are thus subject to tension, as for example the threads or yams comprising a warp which are subject to tension during the steps of beingfabricated into cloth by weaving or knitting, air which has been conditioned to give said threads or yarns a desired moisture content. For bringing moisture bearing air into contact with the said threads or yarns means are provided, adjacent to the path of travel of the said threads or yarns into and through a machine in which said threads or yarns are being treated, for creating a flow of conditioned air, or conditioned air modified by mixture with room air, or both, to effect moisture exchange with said threads or yarns.

We have describedthe invention herein in its application to looms. In Figures 1 and 3 there is shown the lower rear portion of aloom frame it, the warp beam ii, the whip roll it, and the warp W. In the operation of the loom, as is well known, warp W is drawn, or unrolled, from warp beam ii, and passes upwardly over whip roll i2, and then horizontally between the side frame members ill, into and throughthe loom mechanism, where, by known means, the warp OFFICE consists in the fea-- tures of construction, combinations of elements,

3 may be divided into different planes or sheds. indicated schematically as S and S, and weft threads or picks p inserted between the sheds and beaten up to form woven cloth, which then passes over rolls such as IL, and IS, in the cloth roll It, to be rolled up thereon.

Adjacent toz-the path of travel of the warp I provide a conditioned air distributing unit or plenum chamber IS. The position of the chamber I8 along the path of the warp isa matter of choice, depending upon factors including the length and size of the machine to which the chamber is applied, and the length of the path of travel of the warp. It will be noted that in the loom structure I have indicated in Figures 1- and 3 the warp travels through three sides of a substantially rectangular path, moving, first upwardly from the warp beam I I to the whip roll 12, then substantially horizontally from th whip roll l2 to roll l3, and then downwardly from roll I?! to" cloth roll i6, and wepreier to position chamber l8 adjacent the horizontally extending portion of thepatnof the warp.

As illustrated herein chamber l8 is-positioned between whip roll 12 and the frame l and-just below the plane of the warp, and comprises an elongated rectangular memben-comprising the terminus of an .air ductand extending transversely of the warp W. It is provided with a foraminous surface I! through the ports of which I conditioned air delivered under pressure to charm. ber I8 is brought into contact with the travelling warp W by being directed against it substantially at right angles to the plane of the warp. Extending across the warp, on the opposite side of the warp from chamber l8, and in close proximity of the warp and preferably removably supported "'to give'readyaccess to therwarp, is a deflecting member or plate 20, which serves to deflect the air passing through-the warp'W from the ports of surface 19 and thereby toprolong its contact with the threads or yarns oi the warp and its consequent exchange of moisture with said threads or yarns. The plate 20 may be of greater dimension longitudinally of the warp than the charhberlS to prolong the period of contact betweenthe conditioned air and the threads or yarns of the warpand to increase the moisture exchange therebetween.

It willthus be seen that allow of moistd're bearing air will be brought into contact with the threads or yarns of'the warp directly, and will bebaused to flow both between the individual which the conditioned air passes through the nozzles. It will b seen that the stream of air from nozzles 22 will pass through room air for a, distance before contacting the warp W in its upward flight between warp beam H and whip roll I2, long enough to entrain with it room air, which, by mixing with the conditioned air, tends to modify the moisture content of the mixed air coming in contact with the warp W, between warp beam l I and whip roll l2, and so that the moisture bearing air contacting warp W during the first portion of its path of travel has not the same moisture content.as that which comes into immediate and direct contact with the warp W, as from the ports of surface I9 of chamber I8 I during the first part of the second portion of its travel, from whip roll l2 to roll l3. It will be seen that the mixed air comprising room air mixed with the conditioned air emitted from nozzles 22 will be deflected to a considerable extent by the warp W and will-flow counter to the normal travel of thewarp in a path such as indicated by arrow 24, and may be made to contact the warp threads or yarns while they are still rolled upon warp beam H. I

Similarly nozzles 23 will emit conditioned air which will entrain with it room air before coming into contact with the portion of the warp comprising the sheds S and S and the cloth into which the warp is fabricated. It will be seen that th conditioned air from nozzles 23 will tend to set up a circulation of a mixture of conditioned air and room air, as indicated by arrows 25, withcreased in extent untila maximum is obtained in I passing through the space defined by the foraminous surface IQ of chamber l8 and the defleeting plate 20, after which the moisture content normal for the fibers comprising the threads or yarns of the warp" at room temperature may side of whichair channels 2|, and 2 l communicate with nozzles Hand 23 respectively, the nozzles 22 being positioned to direct a flow of conbe gradually restored 'by a mixture-of room air and conditioned air from nozzles 23, which modifying action may be'continued to the rolling up of the cloth into which the warp has been converted.

' In Figure 3 I have shown warp beam H and whip roll l2 provided with overlapping hoods '26 and 26 by which, if desired, the mixture of room which it may have acquired due to its contact with the warp, and the collected air may, if desired, be returned to be conditioned and recirculated. To provide ready access to warp beam I I and whiproll l2 portions of the hoods may be hinged as at 28 and 28 respectivelyg Similarly hood means 29 is indicated by which the mixture of room air and conditioned air from nozzles 23, after moisture exchange with the forward portion of the warp and the cloth into which the warp is converted, may be collected and returned, as through header 30, to be reconditioned and recirculated, and to give ready access to the cloth roll it a portion of the hood 29 may be hinged as at 3|.

In Figure 2 I have indicated diagrammatically a unitary area such as a mill room in which are located a number of textile machines M each provided with an individual chamber 18 for releasing conditioned air into contact with threads, yarns and the like while they are being subjected to tension during the operations of said machines individually. The chambers It! may be individuall-y supplied with- "conditioned air from a main supply duct 32, through branch ducts 33 communicating with the said chambers respectively.

Instead of collecting and recirculating the air discharged from chamber l8, after its exchange particularly where a number of machines equipped with means, such as chamber l8, for bringing conditioned air into contact with threads and yarns While they are being subjected to tension therein, are contained within the same space or room, to utilize the discharged conditioned air,'after its exchange of moisture with warp W, to condition the said space or room. For this purpose the room may be provided with an air outlet 34 which may if desired lead back to the air conditioning means. It will be seen that the conditioned air from the chambers 18, after exchange of moisture with the warp W, will pass into the room atmosphere in the lower stratum thereof, and since cool moist air tends to occupy the lowest level of the room it will serve to condition, and particularly to modify the temperature of the Stratum of room air in contact with the loom attendants and other workers in the mill,

By providing a continuous flow of conditioned air through the main supply duct 32, and varying of moisture with warp W, it may be desired,

vided by this invention a method and apparatus. in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantagesare successfully achieved.vv As various possible embodiments might bemade of the mechanical features of the above invention i/and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

1. In the manufacture of cloth in which elements of the cloth are advanced from a let-off roll to a take-up roll along a path forming subto said path and having a plurality of air vents directed toward difierent portions of said path and adapted to direct a plurality of streams of air against the travelling warp sheet from different distances, and means for supplying condiproximity to the warp sheet intermediate the ends of the path of the warp sheet through the said apparatus and immediately in advance of the, application of tension to the threads of the warp sheet, and another increment of the conditioned air from said plenum chamber is directed at a portion of the warp sheet trayelling through an,

end portion of its said path through said apparatus and further removed from said plenum chamber whereby the condition of said other increment of air is substantially modified by mixture with room air before contacting the warp sheet. p

4. In combination with textile apparatus tin which warp elements are led from a let-off=roll: to means by which they are subjected to tension and then to a take-up roll, means, for simul.-

taneously bringing differentially conditioned 7 streams of air into contact with the warp sheet whileit is travelling from said let-off roll to said take-up roll, said, means comprising, a'plenum chamber situated adjacent and below the path of the warp sheet intermediate the let-off roll and the take-up roll and in advance of the position in which the threads of the warp sheet are subjected to maximum tension, said chamber having a plurality of outlet means including upwardly extending outlets adjacent to the warp sheet, bafiie means located above the warp sheet and extending parallel therewith opposite to said upwardly extending outlets of the plenum chamber and adapted to deflect air passing through ,the warp sheet longitudinally of the path of the warp sheet to prolong the contact between'the air and the threads of the warp sheet,and other air outlet means adapted to discharge conditioned air from said plenum chamber at an angle with respect to said upwardly extending air outlets to direct conditioned air toward portions of the warp sheet removed from the portion against which the air from said upwardly extending outlets is stantially three sides of a rectangle the step of utilizing conditioned air from a single plenum chamber and discharging it against the travelling warp sheet in a plurality of streams so that the said warp sheet is contacted in different areas by streams of air difierentially modified by mixture with room air.

2. In combination with textile apparatus in which a warp sheet isfabricated into cloth while passing from a let-oil roll to a take-up roll along a path comprising substantially three sides of a.

rectangle, a plenum chamber positioned adjacent directed, said other air outlet means being further removed from the path of the warp sheet than said upwardly extending outlet means whereby the condition of the air discharged therefrom is modified by mixture with room air before coming into contact with the warp sheet.

5. The method of operating a textile apparatus which comprises bringing conditioned air into contact with element of textile material while being fabricated in s, id apparatus by discharging conditioned air against the elements from close proximity thereto just in advance of the "place of application of maximum tension to said U warp sheet beyond tension.

6. In the operation oil a textile apparatus in which a warp sheet is subjected to tension the method of conditioning the warp'sheet which comprises the steps of (1) directing a flow of conditioned air mixed with room air against the 5 warp sheet well in advance of the place of appiication of tension to effect an initial increase in the moisture content of the threads of said warp sheet (2) directing a flow of conditioned air substantially undiluted by mixture with room air against the warp sheet just in advance of the place of application of tension, and (3) directing against/the warp sheet, beyo nd the said place of application of tension, a flow of conditioned air modified by mixture with' room air to effect a gradual reduction in the moisture content otthe HAROLD J. WALTER. PAUL R. ROSE.

the place of application of REFEnENbEs crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Turner July 25, 1944 

